Decoding the SAT: A Comprehensive Guide to Average Scores and Their Significance

The SAT, a standardized test widely used for college admissions in the United States, has evolved significantly since its debut in 1926. It assesses students' skills in reading, writing, and mathematics, serving as a common yardstick for universities to evaluate academic readiness. This article delves into the intricacies of average SAT scores, exploring national trends, demographic breakdowns, and their implications for college admissions.

Understanding the SAT

The SAT is wholly owned, developed, and published by the College Board and is administered by the Educational Testing Service. The College Board states that the SAT is intended to measure literacy, numeracy, and writing skills that are needed for academic success in college. The SAT is a norm-referenced test intended to yield scores that follow a bell curve distribution among test-takers.

What the SAT Measures

The College Board claims that the SAT, in combination with high school grade point average (GPA), provides a better indicator of success in college than high school grades alone, as measured by college freshman GPA.

SAT Structure and Scoring

The current digitally-administered SAT has two main sections: reading and writing, and math. Each of these sections is further broken down into two equal-length "modules". A score for each section is reported on a scale of 200 to 800, and each section score is a multiple of ten. A total score for the SAT is calculated by adding the two section scores, resulting in total scores that range from 400 to 1600.

The Digital SAT

The December 2023 SAT was the last SAT test offered on paper. It is administered in an official test center, as before, but the students use their own testing devices (a portable computer or tablet). Students have two modules per section (reading/writing and math). On the reading and writing modules, the questions will have shorter passages for each question. On the math modules, the word problems will be more concise. The new test is adaptive, with the second module being adaptive to the demonstrated level based on the results from the first module. Specifically, the difficulty of Module 2 in each section is determined by a student's performance in Module 1.

Read also: SAT Requirements for LSU

National Average SAT Score Trends

In 2024, the average SAT score was 1024, reflecting the scores of students who graduated from high school that year. This number only gives you some insight, however, into how you performed. Even if you’re above average, is your SAT score high enough to get into your dream school?

Historical Perspective

As with the ACT, SAT scores have been historically low in recent years. In the past six years, 2021 had the highest SAT score, with an average result of 1060.

Average SAT Scores Over the Past Six Years

Graduating Class	Average ERW Score	Average Math Score	Average Total Score
2019	531	528	1059
2020	528	523	1051
2021	533	528	1060
2022	529	521	1050
2023	520	508	1028
2024	519	505	1024

State-by-State Variations

The percentage of high school students who took the SAT differed significantly by state. For example, in Mississippi and North Dakota, only 1% of students took the SAT. In contrast, 100% of students took the SAT in the District of Columbia, and 99% of students in Rhode Island. Kansas and Utah had the highest average total SAT scores, with mean scores of 1256 and 1230, respectively. New Mexico and West Virginia had the lowest average total SAT scores, with mean scores of 885 and 919, respectively.

SAT Scores and College Admissions

Colleges and universities around the country do publish this kind of information. So, while these aren’t “minimum” SAT score requirements (very few colleges have published minimums), they do give you an idea of what the admissions officers expect SAT scores of prospective students to look like.

Understanding Percentiles

If you scored 1010 on the SAT, that means you did 50% better than other students. If you earned a 1190, you scored higher than 75% of others taking the exam. It’s natural to want to know how your SAT score compares to those of your peers. The College Board also publishes a distribution of the SAT scores from all students.

Read also: Decoding Princeton Admissions

SAT Scores at Top Universities

Understanding the average SAT scores nationally and at your potential colleges can help you set your own goals for the exam. You’ll know what you have to shoot for. Which can give you the motivation you need to do better on the test. Aim for beyond the “minimum” or “average” though! Want to see how your SAT (or ACT) scores stack up against other students who were recently admitted to your potential colleges? Get started with College Raptor’s College Match tool to get all the data.

Test-Optional Policies

Today, fewer colleges are requiring standardized test scores for admissions. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, during which schools closed and concerns emerged about whether students had adequate access to testing, colleges became more lax about their testing policies. In September 2019, before the pandemic, more than 1,700 colleges were test-optional. All of the Ivy League colleges implemented test-optional policies during the COVID-19 pandemic. As of the 2024-2025 application cycle, however, many of them have reinstated their standardized test requirements. For the 2025-2026 application cycle, only Columbia University, Princeton University, and Cornell University remain test-optional.

Demographic Factors Influencing SAT Scores

Sometimes, it is helpful to see SAT scores broken down by specific groups to notice trends. This section explores average SAT scores by race/ethnicity, gender, first language, highest level of parental education, and family income.

The Debate Over Bias

Whether the SAT is implicitly biased to favor wealthy and white students has long been a subject of debate. A 2023 study by a team of researchers based at Harvard University, however, was able to back this argument with data. They found that “Ivy-Plus” colleges -- a group of 12 highly selective, private schools including the eight Ivy League schools and the University of Chicago, Duke, MIT, and Stanford - were twice as likely to admit students from the highest-income families compared to students from low- or middle-income families even when they had comparable test scores. By changing admissions practices, “Ivy-Plus” institutions could shift the makeup of the country’s highest earners and leaders. Students largely support changes in admissions practices, including the elimination of legacy-based admissions.

Race and Ethnicity

In 2024, Asian students achieved the highest average SAT score of 1228. Asian students’ average score was 347 points higher than the average SAT score of American Indian/Alaska Native students, which was 881. The group with the second-highest SAT score was “Two or More Races” with 1090, slightly higher than white students. Black students had the second-lowest average SAT score at 907. They comprised 12% of test-takers.

Gender

Men have consistently outscored women in the SAT since 2017. However, women have scored higher on the ERW section every year. Men scored higher on the math section. In 2024, men scored higher than women in total score by 11 points. The scores of people who reported their gender as “Another/No Response” have significantly increased over time. In 2022, they were the highest scoring group by gender for the first time and were again in 2023 and 2024. College admissions officers consider total SAT scores but also scores by section.

First Language

Those who grew up speaking English and another language had the highest total SAT score overall by a narrow four-point margin. Those whose first language was not English had the second highest total SAT score.

Parental Education

The highest level of education that one’s parents received appears to heavily influence how students perform on the SAT. Students with parents who have graduate degrees achieved the highest total SAT score and section scores. Students with parents without high school diplomas had the lowest total SAT scores and section scores, with an average total of 903 points.

Family Income

SAT performance also correlates with family income. Families in the lowest quintile - the lowest 20% - of income made less than $55,667 in 2024. Test takers from this group scored the lowest with a total average SAT score of 887. Test takers from the highest quintile (earning at least $117,610) of family income level, received the highest total average SAT score of 1152. The difference between test takers from the lowest quintile and the highest quintile was 265 points in total score.

International Use of the SAT

The SAT scores for international universities are used to assess academic readiness for undergraduate programmes. Many universities offer admission with SAT scores as part of their entry requirements. SAT eligibility for students requires meeting the age and academic requirements set by the College Board. SAT-based admissions are common for undergraduate programmes in the US and other countries. Several top universities with SAT consider SAT scores for admissions, including Ivy League schools. SAT scholarships are available based on performance, offering financial aid to high-achieving students.

Benefits of Taking the SAT for International Students

The SAT is widely accepted by universities, particularly in the United States and Canada, making it an essential step in securing admission to high-ranking institutions. It provides an opportunity for international students to gain entry into universities that otherwise might require additional entry exams. The SAT offers a level playing field for applicants from different educational systems, allowing universities to compare students' academic abilities based on standardised results rather than varying grading systems. High SAT scores can help secure scholarships and financial aid, making studying abroad more affordable. A strong SAT score enhances your overall application, demonstrating your academic readiness and commitment to higher education.

Countries Accepting SAT Scores

Many countries around the world recognize and accept SAT scores for university admissions. Here are some notable examples:

United States: The SAT is most widely used in the United States, with nearly all universities accepting it to evaluate students' academic readiness for higher education.
Canada: SAT requirements in Canada may include specific score thresholds for international students applying for undergraduate programmes.
United Kingdom (UK): The United Kingdom remains a top choice for international students due to its prestigious academic reputation and diverse cultural experience.
Australia: Many universities in Australia accept SAT scores for admission, making it easier for students from various educational backgrounds to gain entry.
Singapore: With universities that accept SAT scores, Singapore's institutions offer world-class education with a focus on innovation and technology.
Hong Kong: Hong Kong offers excellent higher education opportunities with institutions that accept SAT scores, attracting international students to its diverse and dynamic academic environment.
European Union (EU): With many European universities accepting SAT scores, students have access to renowned institutions that focus on research, innovation, and industry-relevant education.
Middle East: Several institutions here accept SAT scores as part of their admissions criteria, especially in countries like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.
Caribbean: Several Caribbean universities accept SAT scores for admission, especially in institutions focused on healthcare, which cater to international students aiming to pursue medical and related degrees.
New Zealand: Many New Zealand universities accept SAT scores for university admissions, providing access to a range of programmes.

Maximizing Your SAT Performance

Many students prepare for the SAT using books, classes, online courses, and tutoring, which are offered by a variety of companies and organizations. However, (expensive) preparatory courses do not offer significant improvements on their performance.

Preparation Strategies

According to cognitive scientist Sian Beilock, 'choking', or substandard performance on important occasions, such as taking the SAT, can be prevented by doing plenty of practice questions and proctored exams to improve procedural memory, making use of the booklet to write down intermediate steps to avoid overloading working memory, and writing a diary entry about one's anxieties on the day of the exam to enhance self-empathy and positive self-image. Sleep hygiene is important as the quality of sleep during the days leading to the exam can improve performance.

The Role of the PSAT

The College Board also offers a test called the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), and there is some evidence that taking the PSAT at least once can help students do better on the SAT; moreover, like the case for the SAT, top scorers on the PSAT could earn scholarships.

The SAT in Perspective

The SAT is a traditional method for assessing the academic aptitude of students who have had vastly different educational experiences and as such is focused on the common materials that the students could reasonably be expected to have encountered throughout the course of study. As such the mathematics section contains no materials above the precalculus level, for instance.

Validity and Predictive Power

In its 2020 report, the UC academic senate found that the SAT was better than high school GPA at predicting first year GPA, and just as good as high school GPA at predicting undergraduate GPA, first year retention, and graduation. However, a month after the UC academic senate report, Saul Geiser rejected the UC academic senate's findings "spurious" because it omitted student demographics. By analyzing their own institutional data, Brown, Yale, and Dartmouth universities reached the conclusion that SAT scores were more reliable predictors of collegiate success than GPA. A 2009 study found that SAT or ACT scores along with high-school GPAs are strong predictors of cumulative university GPAs. A 2010 meta-analysis by researchers from the University of Minnesota offered evidence that standardized admissions tests such as the SAT predicted not only freshman GPA but also overall collegiate GPA.

Limitations

Education economist Jesse Rothstein indicated in 2005 that high-school average SAT scores were better at predicting freshman university GPAs compared to individual SAT scores. In other words, a student's SAT scores were not as informative with regards to future academic success as his or her high school's average. While the SAT is correlated with intelligence and as such estimates individual differences, it does not have anything to say about "effective cognitive performance" or what intelligent people do. Nor does it measure non-cognitive traits associated with academic success such as positive attitudes or conscientiousness.

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